But defeat means that Great Britain start off Group D of the EuroBasket 2021 pre-qualifiers on the back foot with a 0-1 record ahead of Monday's second game away to Cyprus.

"From my point of view, we were trying to work as a team and the players are the first who feel frustrated about this situation," said Great Britain head coach Alberto Lorenzo.

"So it's really difficult to try to keep working the right way in that situation. But I don't have any doubt about them, they are working for GB and they feel proud about that."

Austria's Sylven Landesberg was the instigator in that 17-0 run and ended with incredible numbers of 49 points and 10 rebounds, shooting an impressive 55 percent from the field and contributing to the visitors' dominant display on the boards, outrebounding GB, 43-30, as Austria improve to 2-0 in the group.

"We can't allow any team to come in and score 96 points and expect to get a win," Hesson admitted afterwards. "They outrebounded us, got 12 offensive rebounds, I mean whether it's one person or the whole team - they scored 96 points and that that was it for us, our defence wasn't good enough."

GB got off to a quick start as Austria struggled to get into an offensive rhythm in the first few minutes due to quick hands on defence from the hosts. A quick turnover and score in transition from Lawrence gave the home side an 8-0 lead.

Austria though did get going and a three-point play from Landesberg gave the visitors their first lead of the game at 12-11. GB regained the lead and the return to the international fold of Ogo Adegboye saw him score on his first attempt. Neither team though could be separated after the first, with the scores tied at 26-26.

On the back of scoring the last seven points of the first period though, Austria would go on to score ten more unanswered to begin the second as they took a 36-26 lead with Landesberg the main catalyst behind the visitors' run.

Thanks to the aggressive play of Hesson however, Great Britain would stay in touch, but Landesberg was unstoppable, scoring eight points in a 12-2 run to put the Austrians 49-33 to the good, and they would extend it further to 60-42 at the half with Landesberg amassing 40 of those points.

Great Britain started the third positively as the duo of Hesson and Soko tried to chip away at Austria's advantage, but with Landesberg slowed down momentarily, Austria had big man Rasid Mahalbasic for back up, as he caused GB problems inside, helping Austria keep their cushion comfortable.

London Lions guard Justin Robinson gave the hosts energy with a three from Hesson and a textbook turnaround jumper from Ryan Richards providing GB with a lift, but the Austrians were still in control heading into the fourth, leading 77-59.

GB though refused to throw in the towel in the final period, and battled valiantly in front of their home fans, as Carl Wheatle scored eight straight points, including two triples for the hosts, to narrow the margin to 84-69.

But the damage was done, as Austria were able to rest players regularly with Landesberg able to sit at intervals as well with the final buzzer sounding and GB heading to Cyprus needing to win to stay in the hunt to advance to next year's EuroBasket 2021 qualifiers.

"We need to keep working," Lorenzo said. "We have some players that could be a bit better today, but in the end it's about the spirit - this is related with the time, and this is my point of view."